KUALA LUMPUR: Electricity usage by residential users in Peninsular Malaysia soared 23% during the movement control order (MCO) period compared to a decrease of 33% in the overall use, according to the Energy and Natural Resources Minister Datuk Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah.
The decrease in overall electricity usage in Peninsular Malaysia as well as in Sabah (30%) and Sarawak (20%) followed a move by the government to close all business premises and halt economic activities due to the imposition of the MCO.
The most notable decline was on commercial centres such as business complexes, shopping malls and hotels which recorded a decrease of between 31% and 47% in electricity use.
“However, there was a 23% increase (residential), it probably means that (people) are staying at home as directed by the authorities,” he said during a television programme with TV3 recently.
Shamsul said the sectors that had experienced a decline in their electricity consumption will take time to recover, especially industries and sectors that were told to halt their business operations due to the introduction of the MCO.
However, there are certain sectors that showed rapid recovery such as health, communication and food.
Realising the outbreak of Covid-19 would leave a huge impact on the people, the government introduced several economic stimulus packages including providing an electricity discount of between 2% and 50% to 7.5 million residential users in Peninsular Malaysia.
In addition to residential consumers, other affected sectors of the economy also received electricity discounts.
A total of RM569 mil was spent for over 9 million users in Peninsular Malaysia for this purpose involving allocations from the Finance Ministry, Kumpulan Wang Industry Elektrik and TNB.
As an additional measure, the government with TNB has also decided there would be no cut in the electricity supply until July 31, besides introducing flexi payment plan for residential users until December and not impose a late payment surcharge until Sept 30 this year.
Commenting on electricity bills adjustment, the ministry and TNB would do their best to ensure the people are not burdened with unreasonable charges, he said. – May 29, 2020, Bernama
